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seizures with periods

Tue, 08/16/2005 - 08:08
Had a few questions and didn't know if anyone could help.  Back in March I began taking Dexatrim diet pills.  I was fine for about 10 days and when I got my period, I had my first 2 seizures.  The first one happened around noon, my husband was home and he called for an ambulance.  They took me to the hospital, ran tests and discharged me around 5:30.  I came home and pretty much went to bed.  Around 1:00 am I had another seizure, my husband took me back to the hospital and they admitted me.  I was there for 2 days and they ran all kinds of tests.  Everything came back ok and the neurologist blamed the pills.  I didn't have any more seizures until last Tuesday night.  We went to an amusement park, I took a Dramimine around 11am.  We came home, I got my period, went to bed and around 5:30 am I had another seizure.  I called my doctor and the neurologist.  My doctor said to get the 6-hour EEG done.  I have it scheduled.  My neurologist called me last night and told me to get an EEG and MRI scheduled ASAP.  I am  in the process right now.  Didn't know if anyone had any insight.  I am a 36 year old woman, mother of 2 small children who never had any problems until March.  Thanks for any insight.

Comments

Re: seizures with periods

Submitted by astronuts46 on Sat, 2006-08-05 - 19:48
Dear Katie, It sounds like your neurologist is just trying to be thorough with the scheduling of the MRI. I am 46, when I was 24 I had 2 grand mal seizures about 2 weeks apart. They were around my cycle time, and I believe I had been taking one of the over the counter weight loss aids, probably dexatrim at the time. I was at work, I started feeling the DeJaVue, my stomach was giving me that feeling like I was getting ready to fly down the roller coaster, I knew what was going to happen next, I wanted it all to stop so I just shut my eyes and the next thing I knew an EMT was standing over me asking me my name etc., to see how oriented I was etc., and was going to take me to the hospital, and I told them that I did not want to go with them. I went home that evening thinking it was just a single episode that would never happen again. Well, low and behold a few weeks later, it did, and then was when I proceeded to make an appointment with a neurologist, which at the time I really had no idea of what a neurologist really was, but I did my research and knew that was where I needed to go. We did the EEG and the CAT Scan and I went into his office for the results. The doctor said I have some good news and some not so good news. He said the good news is that you don't have a BRAIN TUMOR, the not so good news is you have a mild case of EPILEPSY. I did speak to him about the hormone connection but he didn't seem to think much about it back then, other then to say that he had heard something about it. Once or twice I was able to stop my medication, I was feeling fine, not having any problems what so ever. You never stop medication abruptly, never without a doctors O.K.. You taper off if it is O.K.'d due to the effects that the meds have on your nervous system and the amount of time that you have been on them, if you stop cold turkey you can throw yourself into a seizure. I believed it to be hormonally related because I had petit mal episodes when I was younger around my cycle beginning around the age of 15 or 16 would happen maybe once or twice a year. I also notice the more weight I would put on the worse the symptoms would be, and probably due to the estrogen and fat connection. I believe that estrogen is the number one biggy of the hormones that gets you out of whack. Evenutally, I did get a hysterectomy mainly due to having uterine fibroids, but after the hysterectomy I rarely have an episode of any kind. I am however on one anti seizure med., after about 2 1/2 years I had a seizure, so I went back to the doctor to be put back on an anti seizure med. I believe part of it is my weight, right now I'm taking topamax which is suppose to help with weight and seizures, so far so good. I have one child that I have had biologically. I had her after I had the fibroids removed once, then I had her c-section, then the fibroids returned, then I had the hysterectomy. I tell you, estrogen is a strong hormone. Now I have the hormones regulated this way. I have a saliva test sent to a lab to determine what my body needs or doesn't need: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, (they also check your cortisol level), then results are sent to my doctor who has the compounding pharmacy make up my exact mix. It sounds like you are having the right tests done. There are things you can do now to balance your body out that we were not able to access before that we have access to now. Be in charge of your health. Do what you feel you need to do to be healthy and happy for yourself and your family. If you feel you need to get a second, and or third, etc.. opinions. Hope this is not TMI. Good Luck! Bobbi

Re: Re: seizures with periods

Submitted by Robin D on Sat, 2006-09-02 - 03:39
I didn't know they could do that kind of testing! I had begun to have more frequent & more intense seizures, which we eventually connected to hot flashes. (It took me awhile to figure out that was what was going on). My gyn & my neurologist have given me the blessing on taking Relacore (over-the counter) along with my regular E meds. It helps control cortisol production and has been a great help in controlling my hormones during perimenopause. It actually is sold to help eliminate belly fat but as I read the label it explained about controlling cortisol and reducing stress (caused by hormones). I wish I had found this stuff years ago! I have never felt better, except when I was pregnant & swimming in progesteron.

Re: Re: Re: seizures with periods

Submitted by bubbles_df on Mon, 2007-05-28 - 20:07
De I am soooooooooo glad I have found a forum that has had the same symptoms as I for the pass 20 years. Seizures accompanied with periods. I have been suggesting this for years and no one believed me, except one neurologists but had no suggestion other then EFFEXOR that drove me up the wall. I finally suggested a very low dose of Ativan as I needed (30 pills last more than a year). Helped quite a bit. Here recently, I've been thinking of Relacore (for the anti-stress value instead of dieting) and was glad to read your comment. I am glad it is helpful to you. I have been seizure free for many years with the control of Dilantin but continue to have anxiety around my periods. Will you please keep me informed? I'm just about ready to try it, but still cautious. I am going to talk to my MD about it. IT ALL MAKES SENSE TO ME!!! I am 44 y/o and menopause is just around the corner. Seems like I need something quickly :).

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